Pulse understands policy leads within the department met yesterday to discuss the next steps, and that key stakeholders - including the BMA - will receive an update imminently on the scheme - which is due to come into effect by next April.

A DHSC spokesperson said: 'We are continuing to work closely with key stakeholders in the development of the scheme from April 2019. We will provide a further update in the near future.'

BMA GP Committee lead Dr Richard Vautrey said: 'There's nothing new to say on indemnity at the moment.'

Readers' comments (15)

And meanwhile we’re left another year in limbo wondering whether to stick with MPS at full whack, or cheaper MDU with worries over retrospective cover.
The suspicion remains that Hunt kickied this into the long grass to avoid a mass exodus last year with a promise of jam tomorrow , and when the state backed scheme finally arrives it will be hopelessly inadequate.

I suspect they've looked under the bonnet of medical litigation against GPs and had a small heart attack. It was always going to be complex as there is no one GP job and the risks we face are escalating rapidly. What is really needed is reform of the arcane compensation system that assumes all future care delivered will be private. We should go the same way as New Zealand with a no blame system, it would be much better and safer for everyone in the long run if we abandon the culture of fear that now stalks UK doctors.

Jon Snow, ''But when enough people make false promises , words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answer but better and better lies. And lies won't help us in this fight.''
Tyrion Lannister,''That is indeed a problem. The more immediate problem is that we're fu*ked''